Theater Review: Sugar, spice and pies that are nice

The new Broadway musical “Waitress” is as sweet as pie – almost literally. The show, about a waitress who bakes incredible pies, premiered at Centennial Hall at the University of Arizona on Dec. 4 and will be showing until Dec. 9. The play follows Jenna, a waitress in a diner in a small southern town who is trapped in an abusive marriage. After accidentally getting pregnant, she meets her new gynecologist, a handsome doctor. During a budding romance, he helps convince her that her pies are good enough to enter a baking contest. The contest would give her enough money to leave her abusive husband. “Waitress” served up a cast of charismatic characters that left audience members laughing out loud, as well as songs written by Sara Bareilles and a live band. RELATED: UA student pursues her dreams as a Rhodes Scholar Christine Dwyer’s portrayal of Jenna, the practical pie-making waitress, managed the perfect balance of level-headed moxie. Her opening performance in “What’s Inside” captured the crowd’s attention right off the bat. Dwyer’s airy vocals, paired with the number’s soft melodies, graced the story with a dream-like introduction. The song lyrics are “sugar, butter, flour” which are the main ingredients in Jenna’s pies, and she sang how she came up with pie ideas. The song sets a calm and repetitive tone to capture being trapped in a small town and being happy to bake. The story’s second musical number, “Opening Up,” introduces Jenna’s cast of rowdy friends at Joe’s Pie… [Read full story]